Projectile



Jan. 30, 1934. H. GERLlcH l 1,944,885

PROJECTILE Original Filed Dec. 4, 1930 Fig 7.

Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNITED'STA TES PATENT oFFicE PROJECTILE Hermann Gerlich, Bexley, England Serial No. 648,288

9 Claims. (Cl. 102-26) This invention 'relates to improvements in I peripherally iianged projectiles.

cember 4, 1930.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a projectile of the kind specied which is particularly suitable for use with a projectile propelling apparatus constructed in accordance with my co-pending patent application No.

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the construction of flanged projectiles with a view to increasing the ballistical performance and eiects of such projectiles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a anged projectile "in which provision is made for accurately centering the projectile in the barrel with which it is used, and for properly guiding the projectile through the barrel so that the latter does not become axially tilted or eccentrically disposed in the barrel, i. e. guiding steadily the centre of gravity of the projectile along the imaginary axis of the bore), and in addition to make the flange or anges take the whole of the lateral pressure exerted on the projectile (rotating the projectile) by the lands, where provided, during the passage of the projectile through the barrel.

The invention also has the further object of providing projectiles which offer a minimum resistance during their passage through the barrels from which they are red, and the flanges of which ensure efcient sealing of the barrels and thereby automatically ensure againstA erosion of the-latter and the other defects arising from incomplete sealing of the barrels, whilst in addition, the invention aims at providing a projectile construction which ensures that when the projectile is discharged at the muzzle end of a barrel constructed in accordance with my said co-pending patent application, the projectile body is ballistically of a highly eicient shape.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice, I

have appended hereto one sheet of drawing, i1-

lustrating the same, wherein:-

Figure 1 is4 a half longitudinal anged projectile constructed in accordance with this invention,

section bf a Figure 2 is a ha/.lf longitudinal section of a modified projectile constructed in accordance with this invention',

Figure 3 is an external half elevation of a solid bullet,

Figure 4 is an elevation partly in section of a complete rie cartridge showing the projectile tightly vand axially correctly held in the neck of 00 the cartridge case and inserted at a dened depth, and

Figures 5 to 8 illustrate the application of the invention to large ordnance projectiles, the flanges thereof being slotted at an angle to suit the riding of a ried barrel.

In Figure 1 is shown in section' a part of a bullet suitable for use with a rie having a barrel as described in my said co-pending patent application No. 500,040, and the bullet has a substantially cylindrical body portion 1, a boattailed rear portion 2, and a pointed nose 3. The bullet has a jacket 4 which is provided with a pair of integral annular flanges 5 and 6 formed by spinning the metal of the case outwardly at two spaced positions. j

The flanges are disposed at substantiallyl equal distances in front of and behind the centre of gravity (indicated at s) of the bullet, or in other words they are substantially symmetrical in relation to the centre of gravity.

It is desirable that the centre of gravity of the bullet should move rearwardly slightly as the -bullet passes through the barrel and this is effected by the backward bending of the flanges 5 8 5 and 6. 'Ihis .effect is more noticeable the more the flanges are pressed lbackwardly and thus crease of the progressive axial and rotational 95 velocity of the projectile, shifted towardsthe rear end of the projectile in proportion with the folding down and pressing backwards of the anges during the passage of the projectile through the bore, and this is a very desirable and important 100 feature and which satises effectively the ballistic. postulatum of having the guiding surfaces of 1a projectile shifted towards the rear of the pro-7,: jectile during its axial acceleration and i1 :reas-'- ing speed of rotation during/'its traverse through 105 the bore. f cIn the bullet shown in Figure 1 the flangesexftend at their rear sides outwardly from thevcylin- 'drical part of the bullet more or less perpenthese flanges incline forwardly and merge into the body.

The bullet is provided behind, and at the root of, each of the said flanges with a peripheral groove 7, the volume of which is substantially sufcient to receive the adjacent flange when the latter is pressed inwardly and backwardly as the bullet passes through the barrel. Thus, when the bullet leaves the muzzle of the barrel the exterior of the bullet may be substantially smooth and have a minimum of irregular deformations, whereby are avoided the hitherto experienced deviations of the bullet from its proper course dur- I ing its trajectory due to undue and irregular deformations.

The flanges 5 and 6 of the bullet are high in relation to the diameter of the cylindrical part 1 of the body of the projectile, and serve firstly for reliably and correctly centering the projectile in the rifle barrel prior to the projectile being red or propelled,- and also for guiding it during its entire passage through the barrel after being red. The centre of gravity of the projectile is steadily and continuously guided along the axis of the bore of the barrel and axial tilting and radial displacements of the projectile are preventedA during its whole passage through the barrel thus ensuring a steady and true ight of the projectile through atmosphere to a maximum degree. Secondly the flanges 5 and 6 serve effectively to seal the bore against the propellinggases during the whole of the passage of the projectile through the barrel and in this way the erosion and loss of energy hitherto experienced is eliminated or very much reduced. Thirdly, the anges serve, when the projectile is used with a ried barrel, to take up the entire lateral pressure exerted on the bullet by the anks of the lands of the barrel.

When the bullet is being used with rifled arms it is preferred to make the inclination of the front surface of the foremost bullet flange 6 correspond substantially in angle (relative to the axis of the bullet) to the angle of the breech ends of the lands against which the foremost flange bears when the projectile is in firing position in the barrel. This applies both to re arms and the like in which a single complete cartridge is used and in the neck of which the projectile is inserted and xed, and to lire arms or propelling apparatus, in connection with which projectiles and cartouches are kept separate.

The angle of the flanges relative to' the longitundinal axis of the projectile varies with circumstances, and for instance depends, among other things, on the pressures which will prevail in the barrel-,the calibre of the bore of the latter, the relative enlargement of the bore, and the thickness of the flanges. Naturally the grooves behind the anges will be of a depth and'length suitably corresponding to the particular anges with which they are co-operating.

The number of flanges used in each case as well as the thickness of theflanges is regulated according to the material of which the flanges are formed, the number of lands employed in the barrel in which the flanges are to operate, the

` ticularly in a barrel in accordance with my hereinbefore named co-pending patent application, the flanges 5 and 6 are progressively and concentrically pressed downwardly and nally pressed substantially completely into the grooves '7 therebehind. The term substantially is used above because where the muzzle end of the barrel is rifled, the parts of the flanges between the lands remain very slightly projecting but only to the extent of the usual very shallow depth of the grooving in modern rifled arms which in small bore rifles are but about .l mm'. or about .004" deep; the projecting flange parts are practically flush with the other parts and the body of the projectile. y

The regular deformation and concentric pressing and levelling down of the flanges takes place quite locally and over relatively short axial stretches (axially relatively narrow bands) on the circumference of the projectile, and does not involve any other deformation of the projectile or other displacements or carrying and smearing back of any material over the surface of the projectile body and especially does not involve the displacement and smearing back of any excess material over parts of the projectile body, which would have a detrimental eifect by shifting material radially and eccentrically more or less irregularly, thus incorrectly displacing the centre of gravity of the bullet,` which should be avoided at all costs.

' The arrangement of the flanges and grooves described also enables the flanges to be pressed down and into the grooves so that the latter are substantially filled and so that there is no increased or irregular friction set up and the bore of the barrel is not unduly worn and metallic fouling of the bore is either practically eliminated or considerably reduced.

The rearmost groove or cannelure 7 is disposed in advance of the place wherethe conical rear part 2 joins the cylindrical middle part 1 of the projectile, so that there is a band or portion of cylindrical periphery between the groove 7 and the boat-tail 2, and this is done because it is very detrimental to the flight and accuracy of the bullet if the boat tail or the rear end of a projectile should be affected by any excrescences or irregularities caused by the deforma'- tion of the bulletlanges on these rear parts of a projectile. With an arrangement such as described this is impossible, since if there should be any spattering of material to the rear of groove 7, it will come on the said intervening cylindrical portion. This is not partlcularly harmful, whereas irregularities on the surface of the stream-lined boat-tail portion of the projec` tile are quite harmful to theA accuracy of flight of the projectile.

In conjunction with a construction as described the gases issuing from the muzzle of the barrel as soon as the hindmost section of the bearing and guiding parts of the projectile leave the muzzle section issue synchronously and evenly distributedall around the periphery of the projectile, so that there is a minimum of unbalanced--with regard to time and space-muzzle blast thrown upon the projectile at this critical moment and a steady and uniform deliveryof the projectile from` the muzzle is obtained with a minimum of variations of the angle of departure.` f

In Figure 2 is shown a slightly modied form of bullet and in this arrangement the flanges' and 6 are undercut and slope backwardly and overhang the grooves 7.

Figure 3 shows a solid bullet of similar external shape to the bullet shown in Figure 2.

Figures 5 to 8 show the application of this invention to large ordnance projectiles. The projectile shown in Figure 5 is provided with two spaced peripheral ductile flanges 11 and 12 which are formed separately of, but secured to, the projectile but otherwise have the characteristics of, and Iserve the same purposes as, vthe flanges 5 and 6 previously described. A cannelure or 'peripheral groove 7 is formed behind each of the flanges and the rear groove is spaced from the flat base or rear of the projectile.

Ihe projectile shown in Figure 'I is very similar to that shown in Figure 5, with the exception that the front ange 12 is replaced by an annular protuberance adapted to ride on top of the lands of a rifled barrel having a constant lands bore. i

Figures 6 and 8 show in end elevation one of the flanges of the projectile shown in Figures 5 and 6, and it will be seen that such flanges are provided with radial slots 13 for engagement with the lands of the barrel such slots being slightly wider towards the front of the projectile than at the rear to facilitate the engagement of thel flanges with the rifling of the barrel with. which the projectile is used, a tight t being obtained between the projectile flange and the barrel when the projectile is rammed into the breech chamber of the propelling apparatus.

In all projectiles shown in the drawing the body is cylindrical and of its maximum diameter from the rear of the front cannelure right up to the root of the rear flange. Also the front surfaces of the flanges enter or meet the outermost surface of the body as distinct from meeting the body at the base of a groove in the body,

.l i. e. below the outermost surface thereof. Furthermore the anges have, as shown, in the drawing, their rear or outer edges spaced from the projectile body, and preferably the flanges terminate at their outer ends in a short cylindrical bearing surface as shown particularly in Figures Figure 4 shows a complete cartridge for a rifle, the cartridge having a case 8 in the forwardend of which is inserted and fixed a projectile according to any of the constructions shown in Figures 1 to 3, and this projectile has its'rear flange 5 resting on an annular projection 9 provided within the cylindrical neck of the cartridge case by externallygrooving the case as therequired distance from the mouth thereof. The edge part 10 of the mouth of the cartridge case is turned inwardly and over the front of the foremost flange 6 of the projectile, and so holds rmly the latter between itself and the annular projection 9. In thisV manner a'constant axial depth of insertion of the projectile into Vthe neck of the case is attained whilst accurate radial centering and secure fixing of the projectile in the cartridge case are attained. It will also be noted that engagement between the projectile body and cartridge case neck only takes place at the two flanges of the projectile, so that the projectile can be separated from the case with a What I claim isz- 1. A projectile adapted to be flred from a barrel increasing in cross sectional area from the muzzle toward the breech chamber, comprising a substantially cylindrical body with a pointed nose and boat tail, said body having a pair of spaced 1 to increase the gas pressure area of such projectile beyond that normal for a projectile having the same body calibre, and the body having a peripheral groove behind and at the root of each flange, and each of such grooves being of substantially the same volume as the adjacent flange, the body having 'a cylindrical part, equal in calibre to the maximum calibre of the body, extending from the front groove right to the rear flange, and the grooves and flanges being spaced from the ends of the projectile whilst the rear flange and groove areadditionally spaced forwardly of the forward end of the boat-tailed portion of the projectile, a cylindrical body portion separating said groove and boat-tailed portion.

2. A projectile adapted to be fired from a barrel increasing in cross sectional area from the muzzle toward the breech chamber, comprising a substantially. cylindrical body including a' casing, with pointed nose and boat-tailed portion, said body having a plurality of spaced circumferential deformable flanges on the casing thereof, the front and-rear flanges being disposed substantially symmetrically relative to the centre of gravity of the projectile and comprising the sole' bearing4 surface throughout the major portion of the length of the barrel, such flanges being adapted to increase the gas pressure area of such 1 projectile beyond that normal for a projectile having the same body calibre, and the said body having a peripheral groove behind each of said anges, the forward and rear grooves and flanges being spaced from the ends of the projectile and the rear groove and flange being additionally spaced from the forward end of the boat-tailed portion of the projectile, a cylindrical body portion separating said groove and boat-tailed portion.

3. A projectile adapted to be fired from a barrel increasing in cross sectional area from the muzzle toward the breech chamber, and comprising a body including a lead core, a ductile metal jacket enclosing said core, a pair of outwardly and rearwardly projecting circumferential and depressible guiding flanges on and integral with said jacket and comprising the sole vbearing surface throughout the major portion of the length of the barrel, such flanges being spaced from the ends of the body and from one another, and being disposed substantially symmetrically relative to the centre of gravity of the projectile, the front surfaces of lsaid flanges being inclined to the axis of the said body, and meeting said bodv in its outermost surface. and

the rear surfaces of the flanges being undercut,

and the said jacket, together with the core against vwhich it closely tshavin`g a'circumferential groove behind and at the root of each of said flanges, the volume ofv each groove being substantially equal to the volume of the adjacent flange,` the wholeperipheral guiding surfaces of the anges being adapted to be moved rearwardly relative to the saidbody during the pressing l down of the flanges as the projectile progresses `through the barrel of a projectile propelling apparatus.

4. A projectile adapted to be fired from a barrel increasing in cross sectional area from the muzzle toward the breech chamber, and comprising a body having a plurality of spaced circumferential ductile flanges thereon, such flanges being adapted to increase the gas pressure area of such projectile beyond that normal for aprojectile having the same body calibre and comprising the sole bearing surface throughout the major portion of the length of the barrel, and the front and rear flanges being disposed substantially symmetrically relative to the centre of gravity of the projectile, said body having a circumferential groove behind each of said flanges, said grooves and flanges being spaced from the ends of the projectile, and the grooves being disposed closely adjacent to the roots of the flanges, in combination with a cartridge case having a cylindrical neck, having an internal annular projection adapted to engage against the rear surface of said rear ange, and having an inwardly turned forward edge, adapted to clip over the front surface of said forward flange, the said two flanges comprising the only portions of said body to engage against said cartridge case neck.

5. A projectile adapted to be red from a barrel increasing in cross sectional area from the muzzle toward the breech chamber, and comprising a body having a cylindrical part of maximum diameter terminating at its forward end in a nose, a plurality of axially spaced deformable circumferential ilanges of equal diameter extending outwardly from the outer surface of said cylindrical part of the body, such flanges being adapted to increase the gas pressure area of such projectile beyond that normal for a projectile having the same body calibre and comprising the sole bearing surface throughout the major portion of the length of the barrel, and

. the front ends of said flanges merging into the projectile body flush with said outer surface and the front surface of the flanges being rearwardly and outwardly inclined from ,the said outer surface and the flanges each terminating at its rear and outer end (which is spaced from said body) in a. short cylindrical bearing surface, a'circumferential cannelure being provided behind each ange and extending below the surface of the projectile body and of a sufficient volume to enable it to'receive the flange in front thereof, and the flanges nearer the front and rear ends of the body respectively being disposed at substantially equal distances to the front and rear respectively of the centre of gravity of the projectile.

6. A projectile for use with projectile propelling apparatus having a barrel the groove bore of which is greater in diameter at the breech than being at their outer edges, which are spaced from the projectile, of substantial thickness so that these outer edges form substantial bearing surfaces, a circumferential cannelure being vprovided behind each llange and extending below the 'surface of the projectile body and each of a volume suiciently large to enable it to receive the flange in front thereof, and said flanges being initially of a diameter greater than that of the groove bore at the muzzle of a barrel for which the projectile is designed, such flanges being adapted to increase the gas pressure area of such projectile beyond that normal for a projectile having the same body calibre, and the front and rear flanges being equally spaced to the front and rear respectivelyof the centre of gravity of said projectile body, and the vrear cannelure being spaced from the rear end of the body of the projectile.

7. A projectile adapted to be fired from a barrel increasing in cross sectional area from the muzzle toward the breech chamber, and comprising a body having a cylindrical intermediate portion of maximum diameter terminating at its front end in a nose decreasing in diameter forwardly and terminating at its rear end in a boat-tail portion, a pair of axially spaced peripheral deformable .flanges projecting outwardly from said cylindrical part of the body and each having a rearwardly and outwardly inclined front surface entering, at the forward end, the cylindrical part of the said body flush with the outer surface thereof, such flanges being adapted to increase the gas pressure area of such projectile beyondl that normal for a projectile having the sameV body calibre and comprising the sole bearing surface throughout the major portion of the length of the barrel, and a circumferential cannelure being provided inthe cylindrical part of said body behind each of said flanges, and each being adapted to receive the flange in front thereof, the rearmostl cannelure being spaced from the rearmost end of the said cylindrical part, and the said cylindrical part being of -its normal maximum diameter from the rear edge of the foremost cannelure right up to the front end of the rearmost flange.

8. A projectile adapted to be red from a barrel increasing in cross sectional area from the muzzle toward the breech chamber, and comprising a body having a cylindrical part of maximum diameter-terminating at its forward end in a nose, axially spaced deformable circumferential llanges of equal diameter extending outwardly from the outer surface of lsaid cylindrical part'of the body, the front ends of said flanges merging into the projectile .body ilush with said outer surface and the front surface of the flanges being rearwardly and outwardly inclined from the said outer surface and the flanges each terminating at its rear and outer end (which is spaced from said body) in a short cylindrical bearing surface, suchV flanges being adapted to increase the gas pressure area of such projectile beyond that normal for a projectile having the same body calibre and Vcomprising the sole bearing surface throughout the major portion of the lengt-h of the barrel, and

a circumferential cannelure being provided in said body behind each flange and extending below the surface of the projectile body and being of a sufficient volume to enable it to receive the flange in front thereof, and the front and rear flanges being respectively disposed at substantially equal distances to the front and rear of the centre of gravity of the projectile. the said body terminating at the rear end in a portion of boat-tail form and the rearmost of the said cannelures being spaced forwardly from the rear end of said cylindrical part of the body.

v 9. A projectile for use with a projectile propelling device having a rilled barrel of greater groove bore diameter at the breech end than at the muzzle, comprising a body having a cylindrical intermediate portion of maximum diameter terminating at its front end in a nose decreasing in outer surface thereof, each of said flanges terminating at the rear end, which is spaced from the body of the projectile, in a substantially cylin- -drical bearing surface, a circumferential cannelure being provided behind each of said flanges and formed in the cylindrical part of said body and each adapted to receive the flange in front thereof, said flanges being of equal diameter to one another and equal to the largest diameter of the groovebore of the barrel for which the projectile is designed, the rear cannelure being spaced from the rear end of the said cylindrical part, and

the said cylindrical part being of its normal max- -imum diameter from the rear edge of the front cannelure right up tothe front end of the rear flange.

HERMANN GERLICH. 

